Continuing Education Units (CEU's)

The design profession is rapidly redefining itself and its products through the application of new technologies, standards, and specifications. As professionals, we must continually strive to meet these challenges. Pressures to perform better and become the consummate professional are increasing. States and design associations are asking practitioners and their members to become certified.* Clients are asking us to be experts in new fields of specialty. Government is adding new standards and codes in an increasingly accelerated pace. All of this creates an opportunity, one that can keep us ahead of the game.

Education is critical to that success, but there is confusion in the marketplace as to which organization has the authority to accredit a course and what exactly a CEU course is.

The question is commonly asked, "Is this an ASID-accredited course?" or "Did (NCIDQ) approve this course?” The answer to both questions is no.

Professional organizations, such as ASID and IIDA, sponsor individual courses through their educational departments. The courses are then approved using IACET guidelines. All CEU courses use IACET guidelines for approval. An IACET provider has the final authority to approve/accredit all our seminars and course offerings. IACET defines one continuing education unit (CEU) as 10 contact hours in an organized education experience, under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction. Hours refer to actual hours of instruction. Three hours of instruction earns 0.3 CEU credits.

For more information about CEU's in your state, link to ASID.

Deb Barrett's seminars have all been IACET approved. In most cases, they have also been sponsored by ASID and gone through the IDCEC approval process.

In addition, she is one of the few IACET Certified speakers.

*The best way to determine if you are required to earn CEUs is to contact the Department of Registration in your state regarding requirements. Most states have laws pertaining to registration and certification of members of the design profession. For more information about CEU's in your state, link to ASID.

What makes up a CEU Course in our industry?

It Must:

1. Be focused on the practice of interior design;

2. Be generic, not targeted at selling a product or service;

3. Be created and delivered by qualified instructors;

4. Be delivered using a variety of presentation methods;

5. Have clearly defined course objectives; and

6. Have complete outlines and handouts.